Unorthodox backup GPS

Jun 22, 2011

Mike Shane

Garmin GPS

To the editor: I’m the celestial navigator (along with other duties) on the Beneteau sloop Last One. Always looking for the more than one instrument to determine position, I found that my Garmin Nuvi GPS that I use for driving directions can be used as a wonderful backup to the on board chartplotter GPS.

Insert the arrival buoy of your home channel as a named position, and then using that data you can find distance and direction to starting position. I may not care to use this device for full-time nav work, but as a backup it sure is handy. You can’t have too many sources of nav information. Since I already have the Garmin for normal travel, it’s great to carry on board and when in port to find a local hospital, Kmart, or Taco Bell!!

—Mike Shane will use his car GPS on the water just so he doesn’t have to pull over to ask for directions.